I tested the iPhone 16 Pro: my 3 favorite features of Apple’s pocket-sized supercomputer

I spent several hours with Apple’s new flagship iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max earlier this week at the Steve Jobs Theater and we quickly formed some first impressions. As I do in my iPhone reviews.I always try to keep in mind that most iPhone updates come from a phone that is at least three years old.

Also: iPhone 16 hands-on: so packed with features that I didn’t envy the Pro models

And while the first thing many buyers may notice is the new phone color of the year (this year it’s Desert Titanium, which is actually just a shade of gold), what most of us barely pay attention to are the latest advances in the brain that powers the iPhone. It’s always the case that you unlock new capabilities, but this year, that feels more true than ever with the new A18 Pro. Or at least it powers my new favorite feature, and many others that demonstrate how ridiculously powerful this device is.

And yes, I’ll stop talking about chips and move on to my three favorite features.

View on Apple

1. Camera control

The new Camera Control allows users to do more with the iPhone camera and do it quickly. This new key is located on the right side of the phone below the power button, but it’s made of darker metal and sits more flush with the side of the phone.

It’s also touch sensitive, which is a feat of engineering. One press opens the camera app. A second press takes a photo. Press and hold and it will start recording video. Light pressure and a swipe to one side or the other allows you to zoom in and out. A light double tap and a swipe to either side lets you select different settings, from zoom to depth of field, new photo styles, and several other options.

Also: iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro: Should you upgrade?

If it sounds a bit complicated, which is not. You will quickly master it. I tested it and it will be very useful for people who take a lot of photos with the iPhone… and let’s be honest, there are a lot of us because The iPhone is the most used camera in the world.. The camera control button gives the iPhone a feature that no other phone in the world has right now. He Sony Xperia 1V The closest thing is with its dedicated shutter button, but it doesn’t do that much.

People will love this feature.

2. Size and finish

Both Pro iPhones got larger screens and thinner bezels this year, making them a bit taller than last year’s Pro models. The Pro expands from 6.1 inches to 6.3 and the Max grows from 6.7 inches to 6.9. Both ZDNET Review Editors Kerry Wan and I noticed it right away in the iPhone 16 demo area, and we were happy because we both tend to prefer the slightly taller and slimmer form factors of most. Android devices as it makes them a little easier to operate with one hand.

Also: Apple just gave me a compelling reason to buy the smaller-than-Max iPhone 16 Pro this year

However, there was another new physical feature of the iPhone 16 Pro models that got me equally excited. The titanium sides have a new finish that feels much grippier. In fact, it’s so grippy that I’m tempted to do the unthinkable and try using it without a case. I’m also tempted to make the smaller 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro, rather than the Max, my daily driver, especially since the smaller Pro model now has the same camera system as the larger one.

3. Updates to video and audio recording.

The other area where the new A18 Pro chip really shows its power is in the new video and audio recording options available on the iPhone 16 Pro. First of all, you can now record in 4K at 120 frames per second, giving you the power to perform the kind of super slow motion you only see in big motion pictures. Even just a couple of years ago, you would have needed an expensive pro-grade camera and a desktop computer with a powerful video card to record and edit pro-grade 4K120 video. Now you can do it on an iPhone, and the images Apple has shown so far look virtually indistinguishable from those from a professional computer.

Also: All iPhone models that will be updated to Apple’s iOS 18 (and which ones won’t)

Next, Apple also updated the iPhone 16 Pro’s audio with what it calls “four studio-quality microphones” that combine with software and artificial intelligence to do some crazy things you haven’t seen on a smartphone before. with the new audio mixing softwareYou can now edit audio right on iPhone 16 Pro, which separates foreground and background sounds and lets you choose from several sound profiles, including a Studio profile that automatically muffles background sounds and a Cinematic profile that does so. sound like a movie edit.

You can now also capture Spatial Audio surround sound during video recording (which you can also edit in Audio Mix). And the Voice Memos app will use these updates for an update later this year that will allow you to overlay two different tracks. These audio features are a great example of how Apple is using AI in practical, behind-the-scenes ways that will be much more accessible than typing on a chatbot.

More to come

Apple called the new A18 Pro chip as powerful as high-end desktop PCs, which sounds like hyperbole, but the features above are convincing enough to make me think it can be at least as powerful as desktop PCs. high-end from a couple of years ago. . Once we have our test devices, we’ll run benchmarks and put the phones through some real-world scenarios to measure and compare performance.

Also: Comparison of all iPhone 16 models: Which new iPhone should you buy?

Apple also claims that the new A18 Pro chip is much more energy efficient and will result in the iPhone 16 Pro Max having the longest battery life of any iPhone yet. We’ll also challenge that claim with our own battery tests.

The camera system is upgraded to a 48-megapixel sensor for the ultra-wide camera, which should result in better macro photos and a host of other improvements. We’ll also test it on a new ZDNET smartphone camera test suite.

The AI ​​features Apple mentioned this summer at WWDC, including the recently updated Siri, It won’t arrive until the iOS 18.1 update – and even then, they will still be in beta and some of the features won’t be available until iOS 18.2 or later. But when AI features finally arrive, it looks like Apple’s new flagship supercomputer in your pocket will have the oomph to execute them without breaking a sweat.